Quick Links

A Built-in Corner The criTical angles Unlike a built-in or a set of stairs, a bench might look fine on paper, but the real test is whether it feels comfortable. A short mock-up built of plywood gives both the designer and the client a good sense of the bench’s ergonomics. Seat back is beveled at 5° at the bottom and 15° at the top. 25 in. 95° 16 in. 39 in. Seat angled up 10° 17 in. Seat front angled 10° back for legroom 61⁄4 in. 31⁄2 in. 225⁄8 in. Plywood boxes assemble into an elegant, comfortable kitchen bench with storage BY JOSEPH LANZA M 36 FINE HOMEBUILDING y friends Debbie and Tom decided to make better use of a small room next to their kitchen. They wanted a built-in seat that could serve as an informal dining area and a place for board games or homework. After measuring the space and designing the seat in cross section, I made a SketchUp model of a seat with enough room for four people, storage drawers below, and a cabinet in the back of the corner seat. (See “Drawing Board,” p. 88, for more on the design.) Tom and Debbie liked the design, but before I started building, I made a 24-in.-wide plywood mock-up to make sure they would be comfortable sitting in it. We agreed that the mock-up was more comfortable with a 3⁄4-in. plywood block under the front edge. I gave the seat an additional 5° tilt, then made a new SketchUp model of the base of the seat. Because I would be working alone, building the seat in the shop and installing it as a complete unit were out of the question. Even if I had the strength to do so, the house was built in the 18th century, so plumb, level, and square had long since vanished. Because there was sure to be lots of scribing and fitting before the seat was in place, it made sense to break down the job into manageable parts. I decided to start Drawings: John Hartman